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Replacements came after their furlough. A few joined Toye's squad and two ended up in Nelly's block inside the stable. Edward 'Babe' Heffron. He was a twenty-one-year-old from South Philly – just like Guarnere. They were the same age as well. And straight away, Babe and Guarnere hit it off. So, Babe was welcomed into Easy Company – he was lucky. A lot of the replacements were having a hard time finding their place in Easy among the veterans. Babe came with a friend, John Julian. And although Julian was placed in 1st Platoon, he bunked in Nelly's block. Toye put Babe as his new machine gunner with Ed Joint as assistant. Apparently, Babe made a good machine gunner. Back in training, Babe was showing the Officers how to operate an MG.
Nelly thought they got lucky with their batch of replacements. They might have missed out in Normandy, but she felt they were sharp enough for the next jump. Lesniewski liked Babe but he didn't talk with the other replacements. Liebgott was fairly welcoming. Hughes got along with everyone. A lot of Normandy veterans didn't want to know the replacements. Because the new guys were replacing old friends who were wounded or had died.
"We heard the news broadcast back home...Ike talks to female trooper...it was crazy". Babe was telling Nelly. "I almost couldn't believe it, 'ya know? But then I thought...why the fuck is Ike lying, 'ya know? So, it's 'gotta be true...and hotdog, it is".
Nelly nodded. "Yeah...here I am".
"So – uh – what's the situation here?" Babe asked. "Buck's a nice fella and all...what about the other Officers?"
"Welsh is good". Nelly said, "And Rouse from 3rd...I'm not sure about Peacock but Brewer's nice. I think...Brewer and Buck are friends".
"Brewer's 1st Platoon, right?"
"Yeah".
Babe scratched behind his ear before telling her, "You know...a lot of Americans are anti-British and anti-Scottish...cause they think, we're out here saving your asses".
"They think that...back home?" Nelly asked quietly.
Babe nodded. "Yeah, they do".
"Well...no one is...anti-American here". It sounded as though she was assuring him. "The people here are...very nice, Babe".
Changing the topic back to Officers, Babe asked, "What about Winters?"
"Oh...he's the greatest". Nelly said softly, "He's...a really, really good man".
Babe smiled. "Hell, I've heard good things about him. The fella's here really like him".
"He takes care of us". Nelly said, "So does Buck – you'll be okay here, Babe".
"I think I'll do alright".
"Okay – so...very easy, okay? Inspections are once a week".
"Right".
"Sometimes...we get random ones too". Nelly added, "You'll know to keep things tidy...and the latrines are just behind us...we take turns cleaning them". She said, "We have...a list in the main stables and one in the barn...your name is added now...". Nelly gestured toward the little shelves nailed against the wall. "Socks...underwear...they go here". She said, "And then up there...". Nelly pointed toward the hooks and hangers on the wall. "Fatigues...Uniforms...and PT gear...they go up there". She said, "Breakfast is at...0600...lunch at 1300...supper is 1800 and lights out is at 2200". Nelly explained. "We wake up at 0500 hours during training days...and 0600 hours on the weekends...breakfast on the weekend is at 0700...cooks are off, so, we take it in turns to make meals".
No one asked Nelly to give Babe a tour or to explain how things went in Easy Company. She just found herself in that situation because Babe asked her one question. And from that one simple question, Nelly began to explain everything to the replacement.
"Do we get passes?" Babe asked.
"Yeah...". Nelly replied, "If you're...good".
Babe grinned. "I'll be good". He said, "I 'wanna see London".
Humming, she nodded faintly. "Well...yeah...everyone does".
Before Babe could respond, Sheehy and Leonard appeared by their block.
"Shit...don't talk to her, man". Leonard remarked. "She's as crazy as her fucking cousin".
Babe pulled a confused face. "What?"
Sheehy smirked. "If you don't 'wanna get hit, I'd stay far away from that crazy broad".
Clearing her throat, Nelly looked up at Babe. "Anyway...I'll show you – "
"you're ignoring us now?" Leonard asked.
"What are they talking about, Nelly?" Babe sounded confused.
"Basically, she shot her own men". Sheehy said, "Just like her deranged cousin".
Babe's eyes widened. "What?" Now he was shocked.
But Nelly argued quietly, "I didn't...I didn't actually shoot them".
"You basically did". Sheehy shrugged. "And her cousin? Just as crazy. He shot his own Sergeant out in Normandy".
Nelly turned and looked up at Sheehy. "Self-defence".
"You believe that shit?" Sheehy snorted. "You're a stupid kid, you know that?"
"And a handful of prisoners". Leonard added, "He shot them too".
Eyebrows raised; Babe looked down at Nelly. "Are they shitting me, Nelly?"
Nelly shook her head.
"Holy...shit". Babe whispered.
She continued to stare up at Leonard and Sheehy. "I know...I was wrong".
"You ruined Tommy's life". Leonard whispered fiercely. "He wrote me a letter you know...he's had to have thirteen operations".
Nelly's foot shifted against the ground as her stomach filled with lead. Thirteen surgeries. Her face paled. Nelly still had Burges's letter tucked inside her jacket pocket. She was scared to read it, worried Burges's words would be filled with anger and burning resentment. Nelly certainly wasn't going to read it now after learning the man had to have thirteen operations. She felt a crushing sense of guilt and regret.
"What's going on?"
Nelly's eyes raised. Toye was looming behind Sheehy and Leonard.
"Nothing, boss". Sheehy said smoothly. "We were showing Babe the ropes".
Toye's eyes looked toward Nelly. "You good, kid?"
She nodded faintly.
"I need to borrow you for a second, kid". Toye said to her. "It's about Malark".
Frowning, Nelly pushed by Sheehy and Leonard and followed her Sergeant outside. A sense of worry rushed through her body because nothing ever happened to Malarkey. She thought he was unwell again, with an ear infection. But it was a lot worse.
Quietly, Toye told her, "Malark's Grandmother passed away".
Nelly's frown deepened. "Where is he?"
"He – uh – I think he wants to be alone...".
She completely ignored that. "Okay".
And Nelly walked by Toye and ended up running up the hill and toward London Road. Reaching the thatched-roof house, Nelly didn't bother knocking. Opening the door, she stepped inside the entrance hall and poked her head inside the living room. Malarkey sat alone on the couch – he did want to be alone. Nelly walked into the living room and sat down next to her friend.
Malarkey let out a shaky sigh. "Well...Aunt Margarita tells me she died on D-Day...".
Frowning sadly, Nelly grabbed a hold of his arm.
Malarkey let out another sigh. "She said...Grandmother Malarkey died of a broken heart, worrying about me".
Eyes closing, Nelly shook her head.
Malarkey swallowed with difficulty. "I guess...she won't need to worry anymore, huh?"
Eyes opening, she looked to the side of his face. Letting go of his arm, Nelly placed a hand on his back. Shifting closer, Nelly pressed the side of her face against his arm. "Do you want to cry?"
Malarkey shook his head.
"Do you...want me to go?"
Again, he shook his head. "Just...you're fine where you are, Nelly".
"I've got you...brother". Nelly whispered softly.
Tears prickling in the corner of his eyes, Malarkey pressed a kiss to the top of Nelly's head and then wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Nelly ran her hand up and down his back. And the two friends sat and held each other in silence for a while. Malarkey processed his grief and Nelly held him through it.
After ten minutes of silence, Malarkey whispered, "How did you do it?"
"When I lost mum and Jimmy?"
"Yeah".
"I was ten...". Nelly whispered, "I didn't...understand". She said, "But...I cried a lot and...and sat with the feeling of...being sad and...and missing them".
"It gets easier, right?" Malarkey asked quietly.
Nelly nodded. "Yeah". She said softly, "It does". Nelly added, "You have to know...it can't be your fault, Donnie...no matter what your...your aunt tells you...it wasn't your fault".
"I just – "
"she's...named after...a drink?" Nelly sounded mildly confused. "Well...that's...okay".
And a tiny smile met Malarkey's face. "I love you, pal".
"Love you, Donnie".
...
On a Saturday morning, Winters gave Toye six tickets and told him to pick himself and five others to attend a Glenn Miller concert in Newbury. Of course, Toye picked his shitheads and his good friend, Guarnere. Malarkey was over the moon – he loved Glenn Miller. And Malarkey was so excited to watch Glenn Miller and his Army Airforce Band live. The six of them dressed in their Class A uniforms and got on the bus with the other lucky six troopers from Dog Company. Each Company from the 506th was allotted six tickets. Skip, Malarkey, Alex, Nelly, Guarnere and Toye were the lucky six from Easy Company.
"I feel like we're kindred spirits". Malarkey said, "Me and Glenn".
"You're on first names with the guy?" Skip harmlessly joked.
"I was a Signa Nu at the University at Oregon...he was a Signa Nu at the University at Colorado". Malarkey explained to his three friends. "Basically, we're the same people".
The four friends sat in the back of the bus together. Guarnere and Toye were in front of them, playing a game of Blackjack. It wasn't far to Newburg. Glenn Miller's Airforce Band were putting on their show at the Corn Exchange Theatre. Nelly felt somewhat anxious. She was restless and her stomach felt slightly knotted. It was her first concert. She had seen live bands before at the dances and Red Cross events, but Nelly had never just sat and listened to music with a group of people before. Knees knocking together, she stared down at her lap to mentally prepare herself for a lot of noise and a lot of soldiers.
"We'll be there soon, buddy". Skip told her. "And it won't even be that bad".
"We'll be sitting down". Malarkey added gently. "All you've 'gotta do, is relax and listen to Glenn Miller's band".
Alex said to her, "Tell me if you need a break or anything, okay? We can go outside".
Toye looked over the top of his seat, "You shitheads doing good back there?"
"We're fine, Joe". Skip smiled at him. "You'll be excited, huh?"
"Skipper, I never catch a break". Toye said, "It's 'gonna be a good night for once".
The bus stopped across the road from the Corn Exchange Theatre and the lucky twelve stepped off the vehicle and crossed the road. There was a long line of neatly dressed soldiers outside of the theatre, waiting to get their tickets checked. The building was old, and grand and looked like it belonged in Rome. Inside, was just as impressive as the exterior. A few young women stood in the entrance hall, with trays of ice cream and soft drinks strapped across their waists.
"Should we get – "
"no time, Alex!" Malarkey cut him off. "He's 'gonna start soon".
Alex frowned as he looked at the ice cream. "But...".
Skip chuckled and tossed his arm over Alex's shoulder. "Come on, buddy. Let's go".
The theatre was packed, largely with well-oiled Paratroopers and their English girlfriends. But the Paratroopers weren't on their best behaviour. They were very loud and brash. And rowdy. Taking their seats, Toye had Nelly sit between him and Malarkey. Toye was eyeing the other men suspiciously – he didn't trust anybody except his friends. And as Toye's behind touched the red velvet seat, Nelly looked at him.
"Where are the toilets?"
Toye shot up again. "Alright, let's go".
"Be quick, Nelly". Malarkey urged her. "You might miss the opening song".
Nelly set him a knowing look. "Don't rush me, Donnie".
He grinned. "Sorry – I'm cool...I'm not that excited".
Skip snorted. "Bullshit, Donnie".
Malarkey's grin turned to Skip. "Can you believe this?"
"I know, man". Skip shared his grin. "We've been waiting years for this moment".
Alex smiled. "Couple of fangirls, the both of you".
Squeezing between legs and rows of seats, Toye and Nelly were soon making their way out of the theatre and into one of the corridors. Everything was red and gold. Nelly had never seen so much red and gold before. But then again, theatres had to look that way, in case a member of the Royal family decided to pay them a visit. Nelly briefly wondered if the King was a Glenn Miller fan.
"I'll wait out here, kid". Toye told her when they reached the bathrooms.
"Okay, Joe".
When Nelly exited the toilets a few minutes later, there was a tiny smile on her face. "It's so posh in there, Joe".
With a chuckle, Toye set a hand on Nelly's shoulder. "Fit for the King?"
"Even better...fit for Colonel Sink".
"Man, I like that answer...".
The two troopers re-took their seats and settled down. Eyes to the large stage, Nelly watched as a large group of men with their instruments walked to the centre of the stage to set up. And then, on came Glenn Miller with his baton. Nelly could hear Malarkey gasp.
"There he is!" Malarkey whispered excitedly.
With a grin, Skip grabbed Malarkey's shoulder and began shaking him. "It's not a dream, it's not a dream, Don".
"Holy shit...".
Once the band were set up and their instruments were tuned, Glenn raised his baton and counted his band in. The opening song was "Moonlight Serenade", which happened to be Malarkey's favourite Miller song. The band charged through the song beautifully, despite the gabbing from the audience. And halfway through their next song, "In The Mood", Miller suddenly brought his baton down and the band stopped playing. Glenn turned around and grabbed the microphone. Confused, Nelly looked at Malarkey, who appeared stunned.
"If I hear one more sound...". Glenn began to say.
"Oh my God...he's talking...". Skip whispered.
Glenn continued, "From the late-arriving Paratroopers. We're 'gonna walk off stage and cut this concert short. For good". His eyes looked down at all the Officers, Colonels and Generals who had hogged the front row seats. "If you wouldn't mind stepping in and quietening them down".
Turning into enforces instead of listeners, a General stood up and faced the men. "Gentlemen, let's all be respectful here and stay quiet!"
The four friends cast surprised smiles at each other.
"Oh my God...". Malarkey mouthed.
Baton raised once more; Glenn Miller started the song from the top.
And not a sound was heard for the rest of the evening.